Monday Weigh-In: Week 3

Yes, I know it's Tuesday but thanks to a problem with the drains (don't ask!) I didn't get to blog last night.

Anyway, this week I am very happy to report a 3lb loss :-). This now brings my total loss to 13lbs which I'm extremely pleased about. If I manage to lose 3lbs a week it's almost a stone a month and, apart from stating the obvious as I just have, it would be a good weekly amount to lose in my opinion.

I managed to stick to the plan well again this week. Saturday brought us a visit from the in-laws and so I made a roast for lunch, some pudding as well as a home made coconut cake for the afternoon. Sunday brought us Paddy's birthday and yet another cake. During the week I managed to keep my appetite satisfied but also managed to hold back some points as I didn't want to worry about my food intake at the weekend. It turned out that despite everything I still managed to stay within my limits! Great stuff!

Storytime

"Dad, can you read this book please?" asked Sid, handing Mike a book...

Monday Weigh-In: Week 2

Ugh! 1lb back on. How haven't I lost even though I stuck to the plan?! Well I have my theories actually. Would you like to hear them? No? Here they are anyway:

1. I didn't realise until a couple of days ago that I should have adjusted my daily points allowance. However, this wouldn't have made much difference as (and this is where number 2 comes in...)

2. I didn't actually even use all my points up on most of the days. Perhaps this has had a detrimental effect by knocking off the balance of the scientific gumph I don't understand which normally makes the plan work (for other people).

3. I didn't drink enough water. I know I didn't. I will make a concerted effort to drink more this week.

4. Theory number four is simple. This plan is not going to work. Plain and simple. I'm a sceptic and I don't think it's all it's cut out to be.

5. I had a huge 11lb loss last week. My body is still settling down after having a baby. It's only been a couple of weeks after all. I shouldn't be surprised if there are slight fluctuations for another couple of weeks or so. Common sense is trying to prevail. But then I ignore common sense and go back to number four and sulk at my failure. Or the plan's failure to be more accurate.

So I'm disheartened already and it's only my second week. I could quite easily take comfort in a chocolate bar or tub of ice cream but as I've just got out of the shower the image of my reflection in the mirror is still haunting me to the point where I can see where the last batch of chocolates landed on my thighs and the ice cream landed on my behind.

Still, it's not yet 8pm. Plenty of time to crack.

*Sigh*

Hoping next weeks weigh-in will be better.

Parenting boys

Today Oliver is the grand old age of seventeen days. At the moment he's still a cute little bundle. He still has that lovely new baby smell, and his tiny toes are still kissable.

But I know it won't last.

Sweet little baby boys grow into bigger boys. While they can still be sweet at times, there's a whole other side to them. And when there's a whole banana bunch of them that whole other side is magnified.

Of course, we have the messy faces...



... and the messy faces...



... did I mention the messy faces...?



Then they have to climb on anything and everything. Or at least practise their climbing skills. ... He'll get there in the end.

And they have to run into things. Headfirst. Preferably with a bucket or something similar on their head just to see if it offers adequate protection. Several times.

Bughunting and catching is a must...

... but this works better when it's muddy. As does any outdoor activity.

Then there's jumping. A trampoline is ok but every boy knows that mum and dad's mattress is better especially when they think you can't hear them even when you're in the room directly downstairs.

And we already know about dressing up inappropriately.

I knew they were messy, sweaty, active balls of energy running around. But I've recently come to the realisation that every breakfast, lunch or dinner time, every conversation around the kitchen table will have a single topic of conversation.

The topic's in question? Well, anything to do with body parts or functions will do! Who can burp louder? Who can model their food look like a butt? Who can make tooting noises the best? Oh it's all going on around our table! It's as if they are obsessed!

At the moment the guilty parties are Harry (6), Eddie (4) and Sid (3). Paddy, who turns 2 next week, has recently turned into a copycat, mimicking everything anyone says or does so although he copies the noises and laughs I'm still in a state of denial as to his level of involvement. But one of the greatest things for the younger boys is when their older brother Ben (16), decides to try and teach them the one thing every boy should know.

Any guesses?

Anyone?

Yep, it's the armpit fart.

Giggles galore turn into raucous belly laughs at this musical extravaganza. It's all made more enjoyable only by my cries of "Do you really have to?!", spoken while trying to stifle my own laughter stemming not from the actual act but from the infectious guffawing at the amusement laid on by their oh-so-fantastically-cool oldest brother. I have to admit that watching and listening to them interact like this is actually funny!

So while they can get away with it at the moment because they are boys and we all know that boys will be boys and this is what they do, I have resigned myself with the fact that in 20 years time it's extremely likely they'll all end up sitting around that kitchen table together, and revert back to these days with the same pooping, parping and burping conversations.

It won't be as cute to watch but I'll bet it'll still be as amusing!

Monday Weigh-In: Week 1

As I suspected the weight loss has been extremely good this week but I feel I can't really take the credit for it just yet.

Week one's weight loss is a fantastic 11lbs. I'm completely realistic and know that it won't fall off every week but that'll do me for now!

Now onto week two. Let's make it a good one :-)

These weren't the pounds I wanted!

God has a sense of humour. I asked if he could see his way to sending us a few extra pounds here and there. You know, because we haven't had a boiler for the last two months and need to get one before the winter arrives otherwise we'll be cold. And because the MOT is due on the minibus next week. And because... the list could go on!

Ask and you shall receive, right? Oh yes! I've got lots of pounds, but they're the wrong sort! I've got the physical, stick-them-to-my-legs-and-belly-and-bum-pounds. I was talking about the sterling £'s. Obviously there's been a mix up somewhere. A game of chinese whispers has gone seriously wrong.

I lost the baby weight quite easily after the first three children. Still in the UK Size 10's at five months pregnant with number four wouldn't you know. After that it all went downhill. As did various parts of my body. Gravity became the enemy.

I lost some weight after each consecutive pregnancy. I didn't lose enough. So last week I decided to face facts and say out loud that I need to do something positive. I need to do something. I need to get rid of a whole heap of weight. I'm nearly twice the woman I once was, and though it sounds great for those lucky enough to know me (*cough*) it's not actually that fantastic.

This is my chance to do something once and for all to get back to being healthier and slimmer. I really don't want to look dreadful in the photo's when my children get baptised later this year. (Six of them. At once. It's going to be an occasion!). I want to wear a nice outfit and look pretty.

What have I done so far? Well last week I joined an online slimming club. It's one I've never tried before but heard good things about so we'll see how it goes. And for added incentive, take a look at this! Here is a picture of me at my starting weight last week:

And here is what I'm going to look like next week! (Oh if only it were that simple!)

How cool is that?! If you want to do your own have a look at My Virtual Model's Weight Loss Simulator. I really want to be picture two.

I ummed and aahed about whether to blog about this but thought it might make me accountable if I told you all. I've also ummed and ahhed about whether to post my weight because yes, I'm embarrassed. But hey, I'm sure you'll support me... won't you? And if anyone wants to join in with me please do. It'll be good to have some company.

So here's the deal. My statistics are as follow:

Height: 5' 4" (I think. I'm sure I used to be taller but I think I'm shrinking).

Starting Weight as of last Monday: 13 st 5lbs. (Oh dear).

First Goal Weight: 10st 7lbs

Final Goal Weight: 9st 7lbs

Each Monday will be weigh-in day and I'll aim to report here on my progress. If you're joining in feel free add your progress each week too. I've decided to split my goal into two as looking at the amount I need to lose seems rather large to face all at once, so I'm aiming for the first forty pounds (that doesn't sound so much, does it?!), and the final stone or so after that. That's the theory anyway!

As I began last week my first weigh-in will be tonight. I know I've lost a fair bit this week as it was mainly fluid retention I'm sure. It'll start slowing down significantly as soon as my body settles but I'll try and treat it like I'm eating a low fat elephant and take one bite at a time!

No such thing as co-incidence

Those of you who know us or are familiar with our old blog may know of our history of recurrent miscarriages. Last year was very difficult, having experienced miscarriages seven and eight. A month after the eight miscarriage I found out I was pregnant again, but soon after getting the positive pregnancy test found myself bleeding again. The whole story can be found at this post on our old blog and the few before. We were hurting so much. Why did it keep happening? Why did it seem it was happening again? It didn't make sense. I was angry at God for seemingly wanting to put us through this pain and hurt all over again.

Still worrying about whether I would successfully carry this pregnancy to term, or whether we would be experiencing our ninth loss, we decided to sponsor a child. For our first sponsorship we went through World Vision and after sitting for what seemed like an eternity, looking at picture after picture and reading about child after child, I found myself drawn to a little 3 year old boy in Honduras. I looked at Eddie, my own three old and imagined how different their lives were. For some reason I was drawn to this sombre looking boy. Some people end up sponsoring a child whose smile they liked, or whose birthday is the same as theirs or their own children. There was no particular reason like that for me. I was just drawn.

So, still in the relatively early stages of sponsoring we haven't exchanged many letters. I have sent a few, and received one so far in return given that the whole process takes approximately three months per letter. In my last one I broke the news that we were expecting our new baby very soon.

Our new baby, ended up being born on our sponsored child's fourth birthday last week.

Co-incidence, I'm not sure about. I do think there was a plan in place for us even when we were in our darkest moments and couldn't see it and not for the first time in our lives either.

Sometimes you (and yes, I mean "me") have to work on trusting more that there is a plan just for you, even though you haven't realised it yet.

It's something I plan to work on.

Positively perfect in every way!

Oliver George Sullivan was born on 3rd June 2009 at 9.26am, weighing 7lbs 12 (and a half!) ounces. I went into labour after experiencing pains throughout the whole of Tuesday followed by bleeding when I woke for the toilet in the early hours of Wednesday morning. However, a few hours later the monitor was showing Oliver's heart rate wasn't recovering quickly enough after dipping with the contractions and so an emergency caesarean was needed, but of course it's not an issue at all!

He has blue eyes, and light brown hair which we believe will become blonde over time, long, slim fingers and toes and every time I look at him I can't believe how perfect and wonderful he is. Everyone adores him. He's not wanting for affection at all!

Our baby is here, he's beautiful and he's perfectly healthy despite a stressful and worrying pregnancy. There is no concern regarding his bowel, or his health in general and has been given the all clear. I'm in heaven and we're thrilled and thankful to God that our baby is safely with us. Thank you so very much to everyone who has supported and prayed for us over the last few months.

I'll try and write a more detailed post at some point but for now I'll just leave you with a few pictures while I settle down to an evening of cuddling and gazing at my beautiful, beautiful little boy.

Oliver at an hour old

Ten hours old

Paddy is now promoted to "big brother" and meets his baby brother for the first time. Oliver is a day old.

Back at home earlier today. Four days old already. I could sit and look at him all day!


How can you fall in love with someone so much, so quickly?